Pakistani journalists reacted strongly on Wednesday to an attempt by the government to muzzle live telecasts by TV news channels, describing it as an attempt to silence the free media.

Though almost all channels have agreed to a government-mandated code of conduct, the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority issued a letter to them on Tuesday, saying some "channels are airing live coverages and taking live telephone calls from the public which contain baseless propaganda against Pakistan and incites people to violence".

"You are hereby directed to stop airing such live programmes, talk shows and contents immediately," said the letter.

It added that any broadcaster who violated PEMRA's rules and regulations and code of conduct could be taken off the air and its personnel punished with prison terms of up to three years and fines of up to 10 million Pakistani rupees.

PEMRA has directed broadcasters to install time delay equipment to prevent violations of its regulations, failing which legal action would be taken against channels and their broadcasting licences revoked.

The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists termed the PEMRA letter an "attempt to silence the free media" and said the media regulator is trying to restrict coverage of the January 8 parliamentary polls.

The move is likely to affect the live coverage of election rallies and meetings addressed by opposition leaders like former premiers Benazir Bhutto [Images] and Nawaz Sharif, who have kicked off the campaigns for their parties after deciding to participate in the polls.

The coverage of their press conferences, which are usually aired live by the news channels, could also be affected.

Sharif has been particularly critical of President Pervez Musharraf [Images], telling election meetings that he would eliminate dictatorship. Sharif has also said that the election would be a referendum against the President, who deposed him from the post of prime minister in 1999.